Changes

The Liberal Catholic Church combines revisions of the rituals of Catholicism with teachings more in common with [[Plotinus]] and the Neo-platonic Christianity of ancient Alexandria, than with the current doctrines of any of the mainstream churches. Both of the founding bishops, J. I. Wedgwood and C. W. Leadbeater, and their associates, were deeply committed members of the Esoteric School of Theosophy, and were actively involved in the work of the Theosophical Society under the powerful influence of [[Annie Besant]], then its International President. Wedgewood, after having spent a very strenuous term as General Secretary (national administrator) of the Theosophical Society in the United Kingdom, in 1916 in Australia joined the much older C. W. Leadbeater, who had long been a close associate and trusted colleague of Annie Besant, with whom he had co-authored a number of major theosophical treatises, to build the foundations of the new church. Leadbeater had lectured for the Theoosphical Society in several countries, and had written extensively on theosophical themes, often emphasizing “the hidden side of things.” The LCC official ''Statement of Principles'' opens with the words, “The Liberal Catholic Church exists to forward Christ’s work in the world.”  

The Liberal Catholic Church combines revisions of the rituals of Catholicism with teachings more in common with [[Plotinus]] and the Neo-platonic Christianity of ancient Alexandria, than with the current doctrines of any of the mainstream churches. Both of the founding bishops, J. I. Wedgwood and C. W. Leadbeater, and their associates, were deeply committed members of the Esoteric School of Theosophy, and were actively involved in the work of the Theosophical Society under the powerful influence of [[Annie Besant]], then its International President. Wedgewood, after having spent a very strenuous term as General Secretary (national administrator) of the Theosophical Society in the United Kingdom, in 1916 in Australia joined the much older C. W. Leadbeater, who had long been a close associate and trusted colleague of Annie Besant, with whom he had co-authored a number of major theosophical treatises, to build the foundations of the new church. Leadbeater had lectured for the Theoosphical Society in several countries, and had written extensively on theosophical themes, often emphasizing “the hidden side of things.” The LCC official ''Statement of Principles'' opens with the words, “The Liberal Catholic Church exists to forward Christ’s work in the world.”  

==History==

==History==

In the late 19th century, many English Christians, mainly Anglicans, who had newly become affiliated with the Theosophical Society, were unwelcome in the churches where they had been worshiping. They sought a place of Christian worship, along with freedom of interpretation, in the English branch of the European Old Catholic Church, centered upon [[Utrecht]] in the Netherlands.  

In the late 19th century, many English Christians, mainly [[Anglican Communion|Anglicans]], who had newly become affiliated with the Theosophical Society, were unwelcome in the churches where they had been worshiping. They sought a place of Christian worship, along with freedom of interpretation, in the English branch of the European Old Catholic Church, centered upon [[Utrecht]] in the Netherlands.  

===Old Catholic Church===

===Old Catholic Church===

The Old Catholic Church itself had been formed when Dutch “Old Roman Catholics,” independent from Rome since 1724, had combined with the hundreds of thousands of European Catholics who rejected the doctrine of the Papal Infallibility proclaimed at the [[First Vatican Council]] (1871). The members of this resulting Christian Communion declared themselves to be “Old Catholics” as distinct from those Catholics who accepted the [[dogma]] of the doctrine of the [[infallibility]] of the Bishop of Rome when speaking [[Ex-cathedra|ex-Cathedra]] on questions of faith and morals.  

The Old Catholic Church itself had been formed when Dutch “Old Roman Catholics,” independent from Rome since 1724, had combined with the hundreds of thousands of European Catholics who rejected the doctrine of the Papal Infallibility proclaimed at the [[First Vatican Council]] (1871). The members of this resulting Christian Communion declared themselves to be “Old Catholics” as distinct from those Catholics who accepted the [[dogma]] of the doctrine of the [[infallibility]] of the Bishop of Rome when speaking [[Ex-cathedra|ex-Cathedra]] on questions of faith and morals.